Passavant Area Hospital is changing many of it pre- and post-surgical processes to limit stress on the body and to speed recovery for its patients.

The hospital is adopting an enhanced recovery program that is aimed at decreasing hospital stays, improving and speeding recovery and limiting opioid and narcotic drugs.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Josh Newman, anesthesia department manager at Passavant, said the hospital began adapting its programs in 2016 and applied it to many colorectal and abdominal surgeries.

Since then, the hospital has expanded its program to include gynecological surgeries, Cesarean sections and orthopedic surgeries, and options are expanding.

“It’s a more holistic approach that emphasizes the patient’s engagement and reducing the amount of stress on the body as the patient goes through that surgery process,” Newman said.

Enhanced recovery puts more emphasis on returning to normal habits sooner, such as eating and drinking and moving.

Using non-opioid medicines and medicines that address nausea, Newman said they try to address patient’s needs, while also reducing opioid intake, which have several side effects and can delay discharge.

Post-operation also encourages a return to normal habits, such as eating and moving.

“It use to be bed rest and ‘let us take care of you,’” Newman said. “Now, depending on the surgery and the patient, we are encouraging patients to get up sooner and eat and drink when they can. It’s a massive change in thought.”

It also focuses on patient engagement.

Newman said patients receive more information prior to their surgeries and are more engaged in decisions.

“There is more emphasis on patient engagement,” Newman said. “It seems the more engaged a patient is, the better the outcomes.”

It also addresses concerns in pre-operation practices.

Practices such as fasting prior to the surgery have been adapted, allowing many to eat up to eight hours prior to surgery, depending on the procedure, and drinking clear liquids up to two hours before surgery.

Newman said they are actively encouraging patients to drink a bottle of Gatorade the night prior to and morning of surgery for many procedures.

“This helps with dehydration,” Newman said. “If a patient comes in hydrated, we don’t have to use IVs as much. The body doesn’t process IV fluids the same way.”

While there are still use in older procedures, Newman said enhanced recovery programs are becoming more common.

Newman said it takes time to develop these programs, but once started they have a better impact on the patients.

“There are a lot of moving parts that you have to get in sync,” Newman said. “It provides a good continuum of care.”

Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree can be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1233, or on Twitter @JCNews_samantha.